Method of shampooing carpet on location

ABSTRACT

SHAMPOOING PILE CARPETS ON-LOCATION USING MOPHEADS MADE FROM A COMBINATION OF SEVENTY PERCENTNYLON, TWENTY PERCENT COTTON AND TEN PERCENT RAYON YARNS. THE LOOPED YARNS ARE ALIGNED TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE MOP TRAVELS. THE MOP CONFIGURATIONS ARE EITHER CIRCULAR, FOR USE ITH ROTARY CARPET SHAMPOO DEVICES OR CYLINDRICAL FOR USE WITH REVOLVING DRUM TYPE SHAMPEE DEVICES. IN USING EITHER OF SAIS DEVICES A LIQUID DETERGENT IN PREDETERMINED QUANTITIES IS APPLIED TO THE CARPET, AND THE MOPHEAD IS 000000000000000MECHANICALLY MOVED OVER THE WETTED AREA TO SHAMPOO PILE. THE RESILIENT NYLON FIBES SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT OF THE DEVICE AND PROVIDE AN AGGRESSIVE SCRUBBING ACTION HELPING TO RELEASE THE SOIL FROM THE FIBERS. THE SBSORBENT CELLULOSIC YARNS IN THE MOP SOAK UP THE SOILED LIQUID DETERGENT.

April 17, 1973 B. M. CANNAN METHOD OF SHAMPOOING CARPET ON LOCATIONFiled April 13. 1971 I N VEN TOR. BER/VAR@ M. CAN/VA N A 7 70m/E ygUnited States Patent Ofiice 3,72875 Patented Apr. 17, 1973 US. Cl.8--147 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Shampooing pile carpetson-location using mopheads made from a combination of seventy percentnylon, twenty percent cotton and ten percent rayon yarns. The loopedyarns are aligned transversely to the direction in which the moptravels. The mop configurations are either circular, for use with rotarycarpet shampoo devices or cylindrical for use with revolvingr drumIt-ype shampoo devices. In using either of said devices a liquiddetergent in predetermined quantities is applied to the carpet, and themophead is mechanically moved over the wetted area to shampoo the pile.The resilient nylon fibers sustain the weight of the device and providean aggressive scrubbing action helping to release the soil from thefibers. The absorbent cellulosic yarns in the mop soak up the soiledliquid detergent.

THE PRIOR ART On-location carpet cleaning is the series of processesapplied to a permanently placed carpet which removes soil accumulationswhile preserving the color and fiber characteristics, restores the pileto an upraised condition consistent with the original pattern; allwithin the limits of previous usage, care, installation, age factors, atthe same time keeping the soiling rate equal to or less than that of thecarpet when newly placed.

The term carpet cleaning generally refers to carpet care methodsemploying liquids as compared to maintenance routines which are limitedto dry soil extraction methods such as vacuuming, pile lofting andincidental treatment of localized spots and stains. These lattermaintenance routines are incomplete in that they remove the loose drysoils while leaving behind the film-forming soils which are attached tothe fibers. Carpet cleaning methods, on the other hand, remove both theloose dry soils and the attached soil films. This series of processesinvolves introducing a liquid with deterging and dissolvingcharacteristics for these latter type filming soils. In addition, whilethe carpet pile fibers are in a damp and lubricated state, they can becaused by pile lofting and combing to be reoriented (even more so thanin the previous day agitation) from a crushed and traffic distortedstate to a uniform state more near their original configuration. Thisreorientation causes even more soil previously trapped among thesetangled fibers to be freed and capable of removal either during theshampoo process or later, when the carpet has dried, by a dry vacuumingprocess.

One of the restricting factors in all care routines in onlocation carpetmaintenance is that any process and apparatus must be applied from theupper at-surface face of the pile and any soil withdrawn from the depthsof the pile must be taken up through the pile and removed from theat-surface level. In carpet cleaning, where liquids are introduced, theytoo must be introduced from this at-surface level, worked down into thepile and then withdrawn along with the loosened soil residues back upthrough and away from this top pile face. The soil removal processes forreaching deep down into the pile are many times multiplied inditiicultiy in proportion to the actual depth of the pile. In the actualpresent state of the art the practical techniques for reaching thisdeepdown soil are imperfect and approach impracticability CJI when thedifficulties are compounded by backing materials in the carpet which areabsorbent and porous and allow soil and liquids to penetrate below thebacking face into the cushion or onto the floor surface below. Thus, anyliquids which are introduced into a carpet pile, be they water-baseddetergents or solvents, must have the characteristic of drying to astate where they will not form a tacky film residue which will attractand hold onto soil as it reaccumulates, either by traffic walk-off orfrom the atmospheric condition.

The carpet cleaning methods most commonly used are outlined below:

(l) Rotary brush shampoo method An effective practical method inwidespread use today involves pile lofting and dry vacuuming of loosesoils prior to shampooing. The shampooing is done with a water-basedetergent wherein a shampoo machine with a rotary nylon brush is used tosperead the shampoo liquid fed from a tank afiixed to the machine,mechanically agitate the fibers and loosen the soil film. The upper pilefibers in contact with the brush bristles are actually scrubbed by thebristles. Those fibers below and out of direct contact with the bristlesare caused by the fiexing action of the resilient bristles ot wipeagainst each other and thus assist the detergent in loosening andcapturing the soil. -Upon evaporation of the Water and other possiblevolatile solvents, the suspended soil and detergent residues arevacuumed away as dry soil. A second pile brushing or loting While thecarpet is still damp and lubricated realigns fibers and yarns into anupraised state which restores the carpet to a near normal and pleasingappearance and also serves to speed drying. It also causes trapped soilto be freed for removal during the vacuuming process after the carpet isdry. Liquid shampoos are applied at rates ranging from SAO gallon perhundred square feet to 1%@ gallon per hundred square feet under averageresidiental type soil conditions on which this method is considered tobe effective and practical. Drying time (a function of ambient humidity/temperature conditions and fiber type) can vary from four hours tosixteen hours. vacuuming after shampooing while the carpet is stillmostly damp can remove already dried detergent/ soil residues (termedsoil crystals by some) at or near the pile surface, but the main soilcrystal removal is accomplished after a thorough drying period, usuallyof twenty-four hours minimum.

(2) Drum type dry foam methods Another carpet cleaning method involves acarpet shampoo machine with a drum-type nylon brush which is operated instraight line paths back and forth over a carpet. The soil removalprocesses are fsimilar to that of the rotary brush type machinedescribed before. Typically the carpet is first vacuumed with an uprightvacuum to remove loose soil. Then the shampoo process is begun. Thetypical machine is fitted with a detergent storage tank and a foamgenerating assemblage, usually a small air compressor and a carburetorwhich intermixes air and detergent with especially high foamingcharacteristics. The pregenerated foam is applied to the carpet from therevolving brush as it is moved over the carpet and the pile fibersagitated and the foam worked over and into the pile. Some machines havea vacuum attachment to accumulate foam from the pile surface. This isdone in a separate pass. The detergent is applied at rates ranging from1/10 gallon to 710 gallon per hundred square feet. Because of this verylight application the carpet can be dry in one hour. The soil conditionsfor which this method is effective must 'be restricted to the at-surfacelevel. More 3 deeply soiled carpets treated with this method appearstreaked and irregular in appearance. As in the rotary brush method thedried detergent/soil residue must be in a powdery soil crystal from andbe vacuumed away after the carpet is thoroughly dry. The method,although slow and less effective than the rotary brush method, requiresless skill and judgment and experience by the operator, and can beoperated by said inexperienced personnel with less chance of damage tocarpet surfaces.

(3) Hand sponging methods A carpet cleaning method oered by someprofessional carpet maintenance companies does not employ powderedequipment in the shampoo process but makes use of natural spong'esmanually worked by the operator from a hands and knees position. Thecarpet is lirst vacuumed, usually with an upright type vacuum cleaner,and may be prelofted when considered necessary by the operator. Adetergent liquid is placed in a foam generating machine vvhichintermixes air with the water-base detergent. This lather is manuallyspread over a small section of the carpet by a hand held and directedscoop. The operator has a bucket of warm, clear rinse water into whichhe immerses the sponge, squeezes it out manually and works the foam overthe pile surface. From time to time he rerinses the sponge in the water,transferring loosened soil he has accumulated. The pile is vacuumed,combed and brushed to a uniform appearance while still damp. As in thefirst two cleaning methods discussed the dried, loosened soil/detergentresidues remaining are vacuumed away when the carpet has dried. Theactual amount of detergent applied is subject to much latitude andoperator judgment. It can range from 2/10 gallon per hundred square feetto approximately 1 gallon per hundred square feet. The carpet can be dryin from two to twelve hours. The method is effective on lightly soiledcarpet. More deeply soiled carpets appear irregular and uneven inappearance.

(4) Wet vacuuming This carpet cleaning method typically referred to inthe trade as steam cleaning involves removing both loose and film-typesoils by introducing proportionately larger quantities of water-baseddetergents into the pile of the carpet and almost simultaneouslywithdrawing them along with the thus captured soil by means of vacnumsuction through a narrow slot drawn over the pile surface. Typical steamequipment comprises a wheel mounted dolly containing a liquid storagereservoir and a soiled residue accumulating receiver. This unit alsocontains a pump, a detergent mixture heating element and thevacuum-producing pump or fan assembly. The operating head is attached byhoses to the dolly. The head itself has a row of spray nozzles arrangedparallel and within two or three inches of the vacuum intake slot. Thespray nozzles are directed so that the liquid is jetted into the pilesurface at an angle and in the direction of the vacuum slot so that theuprushing air may immediately entrain these droplets and loosened soilbefore they fall down and away from that part of the pile where the airhas sufficient velocity to keep them airborne, or to strip them and anysoil they have loosened or entrained oi at the fibers on which they haveimpinged. Liquids sprayed outside of this active air zone in the pileremain behind. The detergents are of the low or non-foaming type and arelargely made up of water conditioners, typically one or more of thepolyphosphates which may be in the moderately high alkaline area,ranging from pH 9.5 up as high as pH 11.5. The operating head, which canweigh up to 50 pounds, is drawn by the operator in parallel paths acrossthe carpet. He controls the feed rate by an adjusting valve in thehandle section. Quantities of 5 to 12 gallons per hundred square feetare introduced. Depending on operator technique, fiber characteristicsand carpet construction from 11/2 to 4 gallons per hundred square feetmay remain behind in the lower levels of the pile and below the backing.Drying may take from 8 hours to 24 hours, and sometimes longer undercircumstances of highly absorbent carpet (such as heavy wool pile) andhigh humidity. The high wetness provides conditions for shrinkage forthose carpets with low dimensional 'stability to moisture. Some typicaldetergent residues do not have the properties of drying to a crystallinestate and have been known to increase soiling. The machinery requires ahigh electrical input over and beyond the limits of standard circuitryand requires seeking out two separately fused circuits.

THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method similar to thosedescribed in (l) and (2) above, but instead of using shampoo brushes andpermitting all of the loosened soil detergent mixture to dry to thepowdered crystalline state, much of it is adsorbed and removed from thecarpet as liquid in a wet mop assemblage. In the instance of the rotarycarpet shampoo machine this is accomplished by using an adsorbentcircular mop-like disc made from particular yarns as an agitator orscrubber rather than the nylon bristle shampoo brush. -In the instanceof the drum-type carpet shampoo machine, this is accomplished by using adrum to which is fabric made in a mop-like construction of particularyarns as an agitator or scrubber is attached, rather than using theusual drum-type brush. Both of these machines can operate on electricalcircuits fused for residential or commercial standard Wall outlets.

The fiber materials from which the mop is made are critical. 'I'hefibers must be capable of soaking up and retaining a large quantity ofsoiled detergent solution; they must be suftciently stiff when in a wetstate to maintain an open and elastic consistency when subjected to thefull Weight of the rotary machine or the drum machine, and of suicientaggressiveness to provide a scrubbing action to the carpet pile surface;they must be suiciently elastic to cause the pile yarns to compress andrelax in such a Way as to wipe against each other, thus setting up theirown self-scrubbing action, loosening the soil films attached andembedded in and among the fibers; and they must have non-ravelling andnon-frying consistencies to withstand both the agitation of the fibersagainst the carpet pile surface and repeated launderings t0 free them ofthe adsorbed soil and detergent residues. I have found that the mopshould be made from looped yarns, 30% to 90% by weight of which arenylon, with the remainder Cellulosic, namely cotton and/or rayon. Cottonmay comprise all of the Cellulosic material present in the mop, butpreferably it constitutes from onehalf to three-fourths of thecellulosic fibers, with the remainder being rayon. Rayon will absorbabout twice its weight of water while cotton absorbs about one and ahalf times its weight. Rayon also releases the adsorbed soil morereadily than cotton. The wet strength of rayon is not suicient towithstand the abrasion resulting from the scrubbing of the mop againstthe pile of the carpet. Consequently I prefer that at least one-half ofthe cellulosic fibers be cotton, because it has excellent wet strength,although its ability to absorb liquid is somewhat less than that ofrayon.

The nylon yarns are incorporated to impart elasticity and resiliency tothe wet mop so that the yarns can better conform to the pile contours ofthe carpet pattern, and can loosen the soil uniformly over the irregularsurface. The elasticity also provides a continuous compression anddecompression of the pile fibers below the contact surface, causing themto wor-k against each other. Cellulosic iibers tend to compact when setto form a feltlike mass which does not have this resiliency orelasticity to penetrate downwardly into the pile. Nylon yarns docontribute somewhat to the adsorptive properties of the mop, the liquidsbeing held primarily by adhesion to the surface of the fibers.

In a preferred mop composition, I use seventy percent nylon, twentypercent cotton and ten percent rayon formed in loops from at least atwo-ply yarn. The yarns are distributed uniformly over the face of theporous fabric backing so as to blend the properties of the severalfibers over the entire area of the mop in contact with the carpet. Ihave tested other synthetic fibers as replacements for nylon but foundthem to be wanting. For example, polyester fibers lose their resiliencyafter being subjected to continuous exing during the shampooingoperation and during laundering. Polyacrylonitrile fibers are too weak.Polyolefin fiber yarns lose their original elastic configuration if themop is dried at elevated temperatures, which is the procedure usuallyfollowed after laundering to remove the soil. Vinyl fibers containplasticizers which leach out upon contact with the detergent solutions,and are also sensitive to heat damage during drying after laundering.

The backing fabric is also important to the proper functioning of thewet mop assembly, especially in the circular configuration for use withthe rotary shampoo machine. The fabric must be porous to allow free flowof shampoo liquids through from the topside of the wet mop as it isapplied from the storage tank mounted on the machine. It must be strongto secure the mop yarn stitching from being torn away from the scrubbingor from laundering. It must be dimensionally stable when wetted tomaintain the original circular dimension, both in use with shampooliquids and during laundering. It must be dimensionally stable to thedrying temperatures normally used following laundering operations. Inthe preferred configuration I prefer a non-woven nylon or polyesterfiber spun-bonded fabric, reinforced with parallel stitchings of nylonor polyester thread.

The stitching threads used to form the yarn assemblage and the threadsused to secure this assemblage to the backings and the threads used tostitch the two opposing faces of the circular mop configuration togethermust have wet strength characteristics and be resistant to dimensionalchange or weakening by wetting and shampoo detergents and laundrydetergents. The threads must also be resistant to loss of strength fromdrying temperatures, and must be sufficiently strong to hold the variousassemblages together well beyond the projected life of the mop yarnfaces. I prefer that either a nylon thread or a polyester thread be usedfor this purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a rotary shampoo machine showing the mopof the invention below the rotating disc.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one form of a mop made in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mop made in accordance with theinvention which is adapted for use on a drum-type shampoo machine.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 2 in which the loops are spirally disposed.

The rotary machine comprises a housing enclosing a perforated rotatingdisc 11 driven by a motor 12. A handle 18 extends upwardly from thehousing 10 and carries a tank 14 containing liquid detergent. Thedetergent ows downwardly through the tube 16 is released through valvemeans 17 to the space above the rotary disc 11. The detergent passesthrough the perforations in the disc 11 and the bristles of the brush20, secured to the disc, thus supplying cleaning solution to the surfaceof the carpet as the brush rotates. The apparatus described thus far iscommercially available on the market. The mop of the invention isadapted to be interposed between the brush 20 and the carpet. The weightof the machine causes the bristles to become embedded in the fibers onthe surface of the mo-p 22 so that they become coupled. When the brush20 rotates, the mop rotates at the same speed because the frictionbetween the brush and the surface of the mop is greater than thefriction between the mop and the surface of the carpet. Although a closetrimmed Very dense brush 20 has been shown as the coupling means, anyrough surface, such as a molded rubber disc having splines projectingtherefrom, will serve satisfactorily to couple the mop to the rotatingdisc. If desired, the mop may be mechanically secured to the disc 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the mop is madefrom an assemblage of loops of yarn 24 secured to a backing material 26,which is porous, such as a spun-bonded nylon fabric of 4 to 6 o2.weight. The mop yarn loop assemblage is secured to the backing 26 bymeans of threads 28 which are disposed midway between the ends of theloops and circumferentially on the face of the circular backing. In theparticular construction shown in FIG. 2 there are three concentric rowsof loops covering the face of the backing 26. In place of concentricrows the loops may be stitched in a continuous spiraling pattern from aninner open circle ending in a fully closed circle at the antecircumference of the mop, is shown in FIG. 5. As indicated, in thepreferred construction ten percent of the loops are rayon, twentypercent are cotton and seventy percent are nylon. 'Ihe compositions maybe varied to change the properties as desired within the specifiedranges. It is not essential that every tenth fiber loop be rayon, forexample, but it is desirable to locate the dierent fibers as uniformlyas possible over the entire area of the circular fabric backing 26. Itis also possible to intermix the fibers prior to spinning so 'as toarrive at a single 3 ply yarn containing all three fibers in theprescribed lblend such as the above preferred mixture of nylon, 20%cotton and 10% rayon. I prefer that the fiber loops be disposedtransversely of the direction in which the mop moves. I prefer that thefiber loops be disposed radially. The sides of the loops scrub againstthe pile of the carpet when the mop is rotated.

It will also be noted that the mop construction 4of FIG. 2 has loops onboth sides of the double porous fabric backing 26. This serves twopurposes. First the bristles or fingers depending from the rotaryscrubber have something to look into; and secondly, the mop may beturned over when it has become soiled on one side and the other sideused to continue the shampooing operation until it has become soiled.

In FIG. 4, I have shown a modified form of mop in the shape of a sleevewhich is adapted to fit over the drum of a drum-type scrubber. In thisconstruction, the securing threads 30 run spirally of the circumferenceof the sleeve. Again, the loops of yarn are disposed transversely of thedirection which the drum travels.

In using the apparatus of the invention to shampoo carpets, it isrequired first of all to preloft the pile and vacuum up the loosedebris. After this has been done, a solution of liquid detergent may besprayed on a limited area of the carpet to be cleaned. Alternatively,the solution can be added through the mop from the tank 14 on the rotaryshampoo machine. Th-e rotary machine is mo-ved from side to side in onedirection and then to and fro in the other direction over the same areato work the mop into the fibers. Alternatively, the motion may consistof over-lapping circles. Whatever the direction of motion, it isdesirable that the mop make two passes over the same area in differentdirections. An important improvement attributable to the invention isthe immediate removal of soil as it is released by the detergent action.And when the carpet has dried, a considerable amount of loosened soilformerly left behind, such as by la brush method, has already beenremoved. The dry vacuuming operation serves to remove that soil whichhas been loosened by the mechanical movement of the fibers themselvesagainst each other and which was not in direct contact with the mop.

A detergent solution suitable for use in connection with this inventioncontains an anionic surfactant, alcohol, brightener dye, formaldehydebacteria stat, perfume and color. An alkaline builder/water conditionermay be used to adjust the pH to slightly above 7 to increase the rate atwhich the soil is loosened from the iibers. Modifications in thedetergent solution may be made by ladding other ingredients, such asbrown stain-preventing materials and solvent builders, such aschlorinated hydrocarbons to assist in removing grease and resinousmaterials.

The intensity of the cleaning procedure is modied to be commensuratewith the condition of the carpet. To pick up at-surface level soilaccumulations, a relatively small amount of detergent solution isapplied (Le. 0.2 gallon per hundred square feet of carpet). 'I'his maybe sprayed on the carpet, and within tive minutes the rotary scrubbingmachine having the mop of the invention is moved over the carpet. Toobtain a deeper penetration, the amount of solution should be increasedto from 0.5 to 0.8 gallon per hundred square feet. The detergent inthese amounts is preferably applied through the face of the mop. Formore heavily soiled carpets, the detergent must be applied in the rangeof 1.0 to 1.5 gallons per hundred square feet, and the rotary mop mustbe passed over the area a greater number of times to work the solutionmore deeply into the pile of the carpet. For a salvage operation wherethe carpet is very heavily soiled, it may be necessary to go to 2.0 to3.0 gallons per hundred square feet and use a vacuum scavenger tool toremove as much of the soiled champoo solution as possible aftershampooing with the rotary mop.

The mop of the invention is superior to a bristle brush in that it iscapable of removing the soil immediately upon release from the carpet-pile by the detergent, and additionally, it is less abrasive than thebristles of the brush and does not injure the fibers of the carpet. Atthe same time, because of the presence of the resilient nylon fibers, ithas a strong tlexing ability to cause the bers down below the actualcontact level to Work against each other, providing a self-scrubbingmechanical agitation among themselves.

When the mop has become saturated with soiled solu` tion removed fromthe carpet it is Washed in clean Warm water, wrung out and put back intouse.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE A direct comparison was made between the process of theinvention and a prior process using a bristle brush on a soiled woolcarpet used in a residence. The pile was lofted and vacuumed over theentire area of the carpet to remove dry, loose soil. The soil removedwas weighed and found to amount to about *l ounce per 100 square feet. Adiagonal line was drawn from one corner of the carpet to the other todivide it into two areas having a substantially equal degree of soil.The 'lirst area was shampooed with a rotary machine having a nylonbristle brush in contact with the carpet. Detergent solution was appliedto the carpet through the bristles at a rate of about 11,41 gallons per100 square feet. The machine was moved back and forth across the lirstarea in one direction and then to and fro in a second pass over the samearea but at right angles thereto.

After the carpet area was thoroughly dry which required about 6 hours,at 70 degrees F. and 40% RH., the area was vacuumed to remove drydetergent and soil residue from the iibers. 'Ihe amount of dry residuecollected was about '0.2 ounce per 100 square feet.

The second area of the carpet was then shampooed using the same machineand the same detergent solution but the bristle brush was replaced witha round mop as described above having 70% nylon, 20% cotton and 10%rayon fibers. The detergent solution was applied at a rate of 11Agallons per 100 square feet through the mop. The machine was moved backand forth in one direction and then to and fr0 in a second direction tocover the same area in two passes. The mop was removed, rinsed in Warmwater, wrung out and put back on the rotary machine from time to time asthe soil built up in the mop fibers. The rinse Water was dark anddiscolored indicating that particles of fine sand, clay and carbonaceousmaterial had been removed by the mop. After the carpet was completelydry, which required about '6 hours, the dry detergent and soil residueremaining on the surface of the fibers was removed by vacuuming. Thisamounted to about 0.5 ounce per 1'00 square feet.

Visual inspection of the first and second areas indicated that thesecond area was cleaner and more uniform in texture and pattern.Further, on close observation of the iibers along their entire lengththey appeared cleaner at the backing level depth and the feel was morelike the original carpet than those in the rst area. It was apparentthat when the mop was removed and rinsed, a great deal of soil wasremoved from the carpet which is not the case when a brush is used.Little or no soil is picked up by the bristles of the brush.Consequently, in the brush method all of the loosened soil must beremoved by vacuuming after the shampooing operation. The test dataindicate that about 21/2 times more soil is removed from themop-shampooed rug than in the case Where the brush is used. This is inaddition to the soil removed to the mop rinse water. It appears that thewet mop, unlike the brush, loosens and frees soil which is trapped inthe yarn bundles. It is apparent, therefore, that the method of theinvention removes substantially more soil from the carpet than does theconventional method utilizing a bristle brush.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for shampooing carpets containing soil on location whichcomprises:

(a) supplying detergent solution to the pile of the carpet;

(b) scrubbing the pile with a rotating mop comprising a mixture of nylonyarns and cellulosic yarns in loop form on the front face of the mop todissolve the soil on the carpet and cause it to be absorbed by the mopas it is released from the carpet;

(c) Washing the absorbed soil from the mop; and

(d) repeating iirst two steps; said cellulosic fibers absorbing saidsoil and said nylon bers providing resiliency to loosen the soil in thecarpet.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said mop comprises about 70% nylon,20% cotton and 10% rayon.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said mop comprises a circular porousfabric backing and said loops are secured to said backing at a pointintermediate the ends of the loops and disposed radially of saidbacking.

4. A method for shampooing carpets containing soil on location whichcomprises supplying detergent solution to the pile of said carpet andsimultaneously scrubbing the pile with a rotating mop comprising loopedyarns on the front face of the mop containing from .3G-% nylon toprovide resiliency to loosen soil in the carpet and from 70q10%cellulosic material to adsorb the loosened soi 5. A method as in claim 1wherein the rotating mop is a circular disc having yarn loops on boththe front face and back face of the disc.

6. A method as in claim 5 which includes reversing mop faces when thefront face is soiled.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein the yarn loops on the back face of themop are engaged with bristles of a rotary scrubber.

8. A method as in claim 4 wherein the rotating mop is a circular dischaving yarn loops on both the front face and back face of the disc.

9. A method as in claim 8 which includes reversing the mop faces whenthe front face is soiled.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the yarn loops on the back face ofthe mop are engaged with bristles of a rotary scrubber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,512,204v 5/1970 .Tagiel -15-98X 3,531,815 l0/1970 MOSS etal. .l5-230.16 IJEON G. MAC-HLIN, PrimaryExaminer

